Visit Bardufoss – A hidden gem in Northern Norway
Located about 102 km north of Narvik, and 133 km south of Tromsø, Bardufoss is a little town in Målselv municipality surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers. To many, Bardufoss is reminiscent of Alaska. The climate is dry, with often stable fine weather and little light pollution, which makes it ideal for spotting the Northern Lights! The forest is full of berries and mushrooms, the rivers are rich in salmon, trout and grayling and ice fishing is possible in the winter!
Daily life in Bardufoss
A combination of inland and coast, town and village, provides a great experience for your Arctic stay. During the wintertime, we recommend you try the local restaurants located in the centre of Bardufoss and meet the locals. They will gladly tell you what it’s like to live in a small Arctic town, if you ask them. Most speak very good English, and many can also speak German, French or Spanish.
Going out alone in the Bardufoss area is completely safe. You don’t need to be afraid of people or animals. However, it’s highly recommended to wear a reflector at night so motorists can see you out in the dark.
Most people who live in the area work in forestry, agriculture, services (like restaurants, shops or cafés), the military (Bardufoss has a military airport) or education (Bardufoss even has an upper secondary school and is home to the Tromsø School of Aviation).
Bardufoss has a range of small shops for your daily needs and exciting interior design shops. Check out local handicrafts at Husfliden (the local branch of the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association).
Daily life in Bardufoss
A combination of inland and coast, town and village, provides a great experience for your Arctic stay. During the wintertime, we recommend you try the local restaurants located in the centre of Bardufoss and meet the locals. They will gladly tell you what it’s like to live in a small Arctic town, if you ask them. Most speak very good English, and many can also speak German, French or Spanish.
Going out alone in the Bardufoss area is completely safe. You don’t need to be afraid of people or animals. However, it’s highly recommended to wear a reflector at night so motorists can see you out in the dark.
Most people who live in the area work in forestry, agriculture, services (like restaurants, shops or cafés), the military (Bardufoss has a military airport) or education (Bardufoss even has an upper secondary school and is home to the Tromsø School of Aviation).
Bardufoss has a range of small shops for your daily needs and exciting interior design shops. Check out local handicrafts at Husfliden (the local branch of the Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association).
What to do in Bardufoss?
You can go dog sledding (you can also meet a real Sami family AND dog sledding on the same day with our Visit Sami family and dog sledding tour), Northern Lights chasing, snowmobiling, or even go on a moose safari! The area is also an Eldorado for cross-country skiing, with miles of prepared ski trails.
A popular attraction close to Bardufoss is the Polar Park Arctic Wildlife Centre, the world’s northernmost animal park.
You can visit all the Arctic animals that have natural habitats in the wilderness including the Arctic fox, brown bear, wolf, wolverine and lynx.
Polar Park is a 45-minute drive south of Bardufoss. Buy your entrance ticket online here.
What to do in Bardufoss?
You can go dog sledding (you can also meet a real Sami family AND dog sledding on the same day with our Visit Sami family and dog sledding tour), Northern Lights chasing, snowmobiling, or even go on a moose safari! The area is also an Eldorado for cross-country skiing, with miles of prepared ski trails.
A popular attraction close to Bardufoss is the Polar Park Arctic Wildlife Centre, the world’s northernmost animal park.
You can visit all the Arctic animals that have natural habitats in the wilderness including the Arctic fox, brown bear, wolf, wolverine and lynx.
Polar Park is a 45-minute drive south of Bardufoss. Buy your entrance ticket online here.
Just a short walk from the centre of Bardufoss, you will discover the delights of the Polarbadet indoor water park. You can relax in outdoor and indoor Jacuzzis, sauna, steam room and swimming pools or try the excitement of the diving tower and water slides. This is a great option after a long day out in the Arctic nature.
Just a short walk from the centre of Bardufoss, you will discover the delights of the Polarbadet indoor water park. You can relax in outdoor and indoor Jacuzzis, sauna, steam room and swimming pools or try the excitement of the diving tower and water slides. This is a great option after a long day out in the Arctic nature.
Carl Gustav Fleischer
Bardufoss marks the start of General Fleischers vei – the section of the E6 highway connecting Bardufoss and Narvik. Carl Gustav Fleischer was a Norwegian general who became the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War. You can travel to Narvik on the Arctic Route (route Tromsø – Narvik – Tromsø), which operates daily from December to March.
Carl Gustav Fleischer
Bardufoss marks the start of General Fleischers vei – the section of the E6 highway connecting Bardufoss and Narvik. Carl Gustav Fleischer was a Norwegian general who became the first land commander to win a major victory against the Germans in the Second World War. You can travel to Narvik on the Arctic Route (route Tromsø – Narvik – Tromsø), which operates daily from December to March.
How to get to Bardufoss?
If you are in Tromsø or in Narvik, you can take the Arctic Route (route Tromsø – Narvik – Tromsø), which operates daily from December to March and stops at this destination (stop name is Bardufoss).
Bardufoss has an airport (Bardufoss Airport) with a direct flights to/from Oslo. You can rent a car, take a taxi or catch the Airport bus.
How to get to Bardufoss?
If you are in Tromsø or in Narvik, you can take the Arctic Route (route Tromsø – Narvik – Tromsø), which operates daily from December to March and stops at this destination (stop name is Bardufoss).
Bardufoss has an airport (Bardufoss Airport) with a direct flights to/from Oslo. You can rent a car, take a taxi or catch the Airport bus.
If we think back more than 200 years, the only people who lived in this wilderness were the Sami people who followed their reindeer herds from the Swedish border all the way to the coast.
Around 200 years ago, people from Southern Norway were encouraged to move up here and settle down. They established farms and sold timber to the coastal towns, especially Tromsø.
This timber, which was mostly used to build houses, was transported down the river from the valleys and out to the coast.
It’s possible to explore one of the original farms and gain an insight into early life here.
Fossmotunet near Bardufoss is one of the sites of the Midt-Troms Museum. The history of Fossmotunet dates to 1822.
Historic buildings including a barn, storehouse, blacksmith’s workshop and schoolhouse have been moved to the site from other parts of Målselv.
When the open-air museum is closed, it’s possible to see and photograph these old buildings from the outside.
If we think back more than 200 years, the only people who lived in this wilderness were the Sami people who followed their reindeer herds from the Swedish border all the way to the coast.
Around 200 years ago, people from Southern Norway were encouraged to move up here and settle down. They established farms and sold timber to the coastal towns, especially Tromsø.
This timber, which was mostly used to build houses, was transported down the river from the valleys and out to the coast.
It’s possible to explore one of the original farms and gain an insight into early life here.
Fossmotunet near Bardufoss is one of the sites of the Midt-Troms Museum. The history of Fossmotunet dates to 1822.
Historic buildings including a barn, storehouse, blacksmith’s workshop and schoolhouse have been moved to the site from other parts of Målselv.
When the open-air museum is closed, it’s possible to see and photograph these old buildings from the outside.
Where to stay at Bardufoss?
If you are looking for a unique accommodation getaway in the wilderness, Bardufoss Hotel is a great place to do so! Located in the center of the village, you can find this hidden gem that will show you the real Norwegian local life and activities that will make your stay here a unique experience!
After the Second World War and also due to the fact that there is an airport and a military station in the region, the need to expand the location was evident, and a hotel needed to be built.
Unfortunately, it burned down in 1963, but it was rebuilt and is now explored by a local family with strong roots in this region.
Where to stay at Bardufoss?
If you are looking for a unique accommodation getaway in the wilderness, Bardufoss Hotel is a great place to do so! Located in the center of the village, you can find this hidden gem that will show you the real Norwegian local life and activities that will make your stay here a unique experience!
After the Second World War and also due to the fact that there is an airport and a military station in the region, the need to expand the location was evident, and a hotel needed to be built.
Unfortunately, it burned down in 1963, but it was rebuilt and is now explored by a local family with strong roots in this region.